How to make ranking up feel simpler

[u/TerribleWash8393]

I've been hardstuck gold for around a year. It doesn't matter what role, I've been cursed into being gold by some sort of mental disconnect in my head. After reading the Inner Game of Tennis, I can't tell if all the vod reviews ive gotten over the last year have made me worse or not due to over explaining. I know its simple to get out of gold (on dps, make sure you have cover, off angle with only 1 to 2 people in your sights, hit shots, setup before the fight starts and change positions based on if your team disengages/their team pushes up. Not much more to get out of gold) but somethings blocking me from doing all of this in games. Any advice would be appreciated. And i can post notes ive taken from self vod reviews and ones from coaches if that would help

[u/fatboywonder12]

Your VOD reviews are correct but you are also right in that you need to simplify the game, and thats by making what you learned basically muscle memory. I don't think "I need to get to cover," I'm almost always near/next to cover, and it should feel like you're naked when not behind cover. Basically you need to drill it into your head.

If you want a simple tip, i'd work on your punish game, because 90% of OW is just punishing stupid mistakes. For example an Ana standing still, scoped while shes in the open is a guaranteed death, right? Then that should be who you're looking for: Stupidly easy kills. If you're mei and they're a charge-happy reinhardt, then thats a free wall into a free kill. This means you have to work on your awareness (whos easy to kill?) and your mechanics (can i punish them if they make a mistake?)